A day after declaring his candidacy for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, DPAP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad emphasized the importance of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
He asserted that statehood was crucial to extending protections such as Article 35A to the people of the region.'
Azad expressed concerns over the potential form of statehood proposed by the central government, stating that any arrangement resembling the governance structure of Delhi or Puducherry, where decisions are subject to approval by the Lieutenant Governor, would be unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He highlighted that the fight he initiated in Parliament after the abrogation of Article 370 had yet to achieve its intended outcome.
Regarding his decision to contest elections, Azad, who is participating in his first electoral battle as DPAP's leader, cited the need for further advocacy within the Lok Sabha. He reaffirmed his commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir's historical statehood, along with associated provisions like Article 35A, which safeguarded land ownership and employment opportunities for local residents.
Azad pointed the significance of preserving limited job opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, expressing concerns about potential competition from outsiders if Article 35A remains abolished. He said, that "Reinstating statehood would empower the state government to enact laws preserving such restrictions, thereby protecting the interests of local residents"
In addition to advocating for statehood, Azad pledged to address pressing issues such as power generation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the decline in electricity production over the past two years. He highlighted the need for thermal power projects in both the Kashmir and Jammu regions, citing his previous efforts to secure such projects during his tenure as Chief Minister.
Azad also expressed his intention to represent the interests of marginalized communities, including Kashmiri Pandits and Gujjar-Bakarwals, in Parliament.
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